It was a question he asked her from time to time. Her answer was always the same.
“Happier than I could have ever imagined, my love,” she said, smiling through the prick of tears in her eyes.
“Good.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Why are you turning into a watering pot?”
Of course he saw her tears, drat him. Jack always saw everything. He knew her better than she knew herself, it seemed.
“Because my heart is filled.” She kissed Emma’s velvet-soft cheek, inhaling her sweet baby scent. “And when my heart is filled, I turn into a watering pot.”
“You also turn into a watering pot for another reason. The same reason that has you taking afternoon naps and feeling bilious every morning.” Jack kissed Emma’s other cheek, but his emerald gaze remained intense upon Nell. “When were you supposing to tell me, Nellie?”
He had already known.
She scrunched up her nose at him. “I wanted to be certain. And now, you have spoiled our surprise, Papa. Emma and I were going to tell you that you shall be a papa again.”
“Forgive me.” He winked, and then he released them and turned and walked back to the door, walking through it and closing it at his back.
“Papa!” Emma cried.
Nell felt as bemused as her daughter. She kissed Emma’s nose. “What can Papa be doing, I wonder? What do you think, Emma poppet?”
A knock sounded at the nursery door.
“Papa,” Emma said again.
She suspected her daughter was right. “Come in,” she called.
The door opened, and Jack strode back into the nursery, offering an elegant bow. “My Lady Needham, Lady Emma.”
Compressing her lips to keep a bubble of joyful laughter from bursting forth, Nell dipped into a curtsy with Emma. “My Lord Needham.”
“Papa, if you please.” He grinned. “That is the title I wear with the most pride. Papa andhusband, of course.”
Her mirth could no longer be contained. “What are you doing, Papa?”
“Starting over again.” He gave her another wink. “Seeing as how I ruined it the first time with my oafish ways. Fortunately, I know from experience that the redux often proves far better than the original attempt.”
“We are living proof of that, my love.” Another wave of tears welled in her eyes. Her love for him was so intense, so strong. Stronger now than it had ever been.
Though she still regretted their years apart, she had learned to view that time of hardship and hurt as a gift. Losing him had made her realize how much he meant to her. Restoring their love made her profoundly grateful. She knew she appreciated him more now than she could have before. From their struggles had come great reward.
“Yes we are.” He met her gaze, and she was startled to find a sheen of tears in his eyes as well. “I am so thankful for that, Nellie. For you and Emma. For our family. Now, tell me your news beforeIturn into a watering pot too, if you please.”
She laughed again, and it was laughter mixed with tears of joy. One slid down her cheek.
“Mama,” Emma said, smiling and showing off her new teeth.
All the clever words she had planned dissipated.
“Emma is going to have a new brother or sister by next summer,” she said. “And you shall be a papa once more.”
A tear broke free, rolling down her cheek. A tear of gratitude, happiness, and love. So much love.
Jack’s arms went around her again as she blinked her rapidly welling eyes.
He looked down at her, his expression tender and filled with love. “I could not be happier, Nellie. God, I love you.”
His lips met hers in a swift, quick kiss. It was a kiss of love, of promise, of hope for the future.
